YOU CAN TAKE the presenter out of the chat show, it seems – but not the chat show (well, you know how the expression goes…).

Anyway – Ryan Tubridy dropped by TheJournal.ie HQ this week for a chat about, well, all manner of things.

We ran out of questions eventually, though – so the Late Late host decided to throw the session out to the room…

“Any more questions?”

Someone had the bright idea to ask him when he thought the general election would be – leading the RTÉ presenter to raise this horrifying prospect…

That’s right…

There could be a general election/Late Late Toy Show clash.

The annual toyfest has been confirmed for 27 November this year – and while we’re not certain of an election date yet, it’s looking increasingly likely the Taoiseach will decide to go to the polls before Christmas.

20 November has been suggested as the most likely date – but if polling day were to be moved to the following Friday, well … it may well be too much excitement for the nation altogether.

Is there enough popcorn in the State’s stockpiles for a weekend of Toy Show action and Brian Dobson-helmed marathon election coverage?

Seinfeld Seinfeld

Toy show auditions

We’ll have more bits and pieces from our Tubridy interview in the next few days…

And if you happen to be in or around Cork, Athlone or Sligo in the next week or so, you may want to note that the Toy Show is heading outside Dublin for the first time in its history to hold auditions.

The show is looking for singers, musicians, and – for want of a better word – ‘characters’.

There’s been no shortage of those in recent years, of course… remember John Joe Brennan, the budding horologist? Or this awestruck young man who got to meet his hero Robbie Keane?

But how do producers know who the ‘star-turn’ is, among the Toy Show kids?

Even on the day itself it’s hard to tell, the presenter says:

Note: Auditions will be held in Cork on October 12 (Monday), in Athlone on October 13 and in Sligo on October 14. Application forms are available on RTÉ’s website here. 

Read: Meet the toy that is doing its little bit to bring down Barbie

Also: “They tell Ryan stuff they won’t tell anybody else”: Behind the scenes at the Tubridy show